Don’t request a C-section without medical indication, and avoid scheduling one just to pick a “lucky” date

According to the World Health Organization, once the C-section rate in a region exceeds 10%, further reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality become unlikely. When a C-section is medically necessary, it must be performed. However, opting for one solely to choose a favorable date or to avoid labor pain means undergoing a major abdominal operation for no real reason.

No direct cost. The real challenge is resisting pressure from family members.

A 2015 WHO statement notes that when C-section rates rise to roughly 10% in a population, maternal and neonatal deaths decline. Beyond that threshold, there is no evidence of additional mortality benefits. WHO also stresses that every effort should be made to provide C-sections to women who truly need them, rather than aiming for a specific percentage target.

This guidance does not oppose C-sections. When medically warranted, they are life-saving procedures and should be performed without hesitation. What it discourages is undergoing a C-section when there is no medical need—such as to avoid labor pain, to pick an auspicious date, or to influence a child’s future age for school enrollment. The trade-offs are significant: C-sections are major abdominal surgeries with slower recovery times, and they increase risks of placenta previa, placenta accreta, and uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies—factors that may affect a woman’s decision to have more children.

World Health Organization (2015). WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates（WHO/RHR/15.02）. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-RHR-15.02；Keag OE, Norman JE, Stock SJ (2018). Long-term risks and benefits associated with cesarean delivery for mother, baby, and subsequent pregnancies: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Medicine, 15(1), e1002494. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002494